The Golden Grasshopper: A story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

  A VISIT TO BARBARA TROND.

  We stood in the hall, anxiously waiting the return of Jacob Naas.Several times I went out into the streets, hoping to meet him. Atlength I saw a figure coming rapidly out of the gloom of night towardsme.

  "Jacob, is it you?" I asked, as he drew near.

  "Yes, Master Ernst; and I have almost lost my breath through fright andrunning. I am little accustomed to that."

  "But have you found where they have carried her, good Jacob?" I askedeagerly.

  "Yes, yes, I will tell you," was the reply; "but I am afraid even now Iam followed. We will go into the house before we attempt to speak."

  On entering the hall, a glass of wine restored the worthy Jacob's powersof speech.

  "I hope they are not coming, though, for they would carry me off toprison too, and perhaps burn me for living in the house of a heretic!"exclaimed Jacob, who, though a Protestant at heart, had of lateconformed to the Romish system.

  "But say, my good friend, where they have taken Mistress Aveline!" criedCaptain Radford.

  "I will tell you, sir, if you will have patience," said Jacob. "I soonovertook them after they left the house, but had to keep at a cautiousdistance, lest I should be seen. They slackened their pace in a shorttime, and I was then able to keep them easily in view. I judged, fromthe direction they were taking, that they were making their way to theWater Gate; and my great fear then was, that they might be going out ofthe city altogether, and I might find it impossible to follow them. Ithought of you, Master Ernst, for I knew how grieved you would be. Onthey went; now taking their way through the narrow streets and lanes inthat direction. I had to get nearer than was prudent, for fear ofmissing them. Several times I was afraid that they would see me, but Isuppose they did not. At length I was greatly relieved when I saw theparty stop before a house a short distance from the Water Gate. Thedoor opened, and they all went in. I immediately hurried up to thedoor, on one side of which I contrived with the point of my dagger tomake a mark which I am sure I shall know again. What the character ofthe house is I know not. Just as I was coming away, the door againopened, and I had to run to escape detection. I believe that I wasfollowed, but I soon distanced my pursuers, and for the sake of theyoung lady I would gladly have run twice the risk I did."

  We all, of course, thanked Jacob for the service he had rendered. Hepromised us that as soon as it was daylight he would gladly set outagain with either of us, to try and discover the house into whichAveline had been carried. Master Clough was, however, in the meantimethinking about his wife. We were also interested in the safety of thepreacher. Captain Radford longed once more to see him, as the brotherof his lost wife.

  The rest of the night was spent in a state of feverish anxiety, veryoften in silence, for after we had discussed our plans for theliberation of our friends, our minds were too much occupied to allow usto speak. Captain Radford's was the boldest plan of all. He proposedto bring the crew of his own ship and that of two or three others intothe town, by scaling the walls, which he thought might be done at night;and while one party carried off Aveline from the house where she wasretained in captivity, others were to attack the prison in which MadamClough and her companions were shut up; and a third party was toliberate Master Overton, if his place of imprisonment could bediscovered. As soon as morning broke, I called up Jacob, who had goneto sleep, and he, keeping to his intention, accompanied me to try andfind out the house to which Aveline had been carried. We waited forsome time till people were about the streets, that we might not beremarked, and then took our way hastily towards the Water Gate.

  "There is the house, Master Ernst, at the end of this street," saidJacob, at length. "Let us pass by on the opposite side. I think I candistinguish the mark without looking at it too earnestly."

  My heart beat quickly, for I thought that even then Aveline might belooking out of the window and observe us, though too probably she wouldbe placed on the opposite side of the house. We went on.

  "We must be close up to the door now," observed Jacob, carelesslyglancing round. "Yes, there's the mark. Don't look too hard at it,Master Ernst. Yes, I have no doubt about it. And the house--yes, Isee--it is one that belonged to Count Aremberg."

  I looked up. The door which Jacob indicated formed the side entrance ofthe house. At one corner was a stout tower, and the whole of thebuilding was of a peculiarly massive construction. It was one of thoseprivileged abodes of the nobles into which no officer of the law couldenter without a special warrant from the sovereign himself, or hisrepresentative. Count Aremberg, who had lately been killed, had leftthe city some time before, and the house, it was supposed, was in thehands of the Government. It was, too likely, then, they were turning itinto a prison of the Inquisition, or a place of incarceration forparticular prisoners. If so, the difficulty of enabling Aveline toescape would be greatly increased. However, it was something to knowwhere she was shut up. We walked along as if we would have gone out atthe Water Gate, but at that hour it was closed against us. We thereforereturned, inspecting carefully the building in every direction, avoidingas much as possible making ourselves conspicuous. Having accomplishedthis undertaking, we returned homewards. We found Captain Radford andMaster Clough preparing to set out. But it was necessary to spend somefurther time in consultation. The means of liberating our friends weregreatly curtailed by the audacious robbery which had taken place.Master Clough, however, found that the robbers had not penetrated to oneof his strong boxes, in which the largest portion of his valuables waskept.

  We had still to ascertain where the preacher was imprisoned.

  Should it be discovered that he had been a priest, there would be littlehope of his being liberated. We must therefore in his case employstratagem or force. I wished to set out with Master Clough, but hedirected me to remain at home and look after the house.

  Captain Radford meantime went off to his ship, that he might arrange hisplans with his own crew and the crews of some other ships in theharbour.

  I felt the inaction I was doomed to endure very much. I would farrather have been engaged in some way or other. I was pacing the roomwith uneven steps, after my friends had gone, when Jacob Naas presentedhimself.

  "I have been thinking, Master Verner, that we may perhaps get some helpfrom that old woman, Barbara Trond, whom we met out on the heath on theday of the storm some time back. I saw her only a week ago in Antwerp.Soon after the Duke Alva arrived, she returned to Antwerp; but, insteadof selling wax tapers and other Popish mummery, finding her calling ofsorceress and witch answer so well in the country, she now pursues it inthe city. Nothing takes place with which she is not acquainted. Thecredulity of the Romanists is unbounded, and she finds it pay her well.Now the gold pieces you bestowed on her when we took shelter in her hutevidently won her heart, and it is my belief that if anybody can help usshe can; not that I would trust to her heart or her honesty, but farrather to her avarice. If Master Clough will give me leave to go andsee her, and supply me with a dozen gold pieces, I have no doubt that,properly bestowed, they will work wonders."

  I thought Jacob's plan a good one. I knew that old Barbara's publicposition had enabled her to become acquainted with a number of people inthe city; and from her acuteness and intelligence I thought it likelyshe would have turned this knowledge to good account. I knew she couldgain admittance into places where nobody else could find their way; andif she was determined to carry out an object, she was not the personlikely to fail from any want of exertion or from over-delicacy. Iwished very much to accompany him, and proposed setting out at once,without waiting for the return of Master Clough. He, however, urgedthat we should first see the factor, and take his advice; perhaps hemight have some other means of liberating Aveline, as well as thepreacher, Overton. The time appeared very long while I waited for thereturn of the factor. I could not help thinking that all sorts ofdreadful things might happen to Aveline--that she might be taken away
from Antwerp, or placed in the Inquisition and subjected to torture, totry and make her condemn her friends. The last idea was too dreadful tobe entertained, and yet such things had been done day after day.

  At length Master Clough returned. I inquired eagerly of the success hehad had. He shook his head:

  "For our friend Overton I have very little hopes," he said. "For mydear wife and her two young companions, I may possibly, by bribing high,succeed, provided they immediately leave the country, undertaking neverto return; forsooth, the latter part of the arrangement would be nogreat punishment, as I cannot conceive any one willingly remaining in aland ruled by that despotic and boastful tyrant, Duke Alva. I waspermitted to see my wife, and I was thus able to keep up her spirits.My belief is, that the authorities, who have got her in their power,keep her there, in order to see how much they can draw from me. I amnow going forth to endeavour to raise the sum they require; at the sametime, I have threatened to make a formal complaint to the Court of Spainof the robbery which has been committed in my house, and of the outrageto my family by the carrying off of one of its members. Of MistressAveline I have been unable to gain any information."

  I told Master Clough of Jacob's proposal, to which he agreed, and atonce placed a purse of gold in my hand, telling me to make the best useof it I could.

  "Duke Alva will arrive here to-morrow, I find, for the purpose of beingpresent at the opening of the monument he has erected to himself. As heat present, as far as I can learn, has no wish to quarrel with England,I have hopes that a personal application to him may be successful. Atall events, we must leave no stone unturned to gain our object; and,once out of this country, never will I set foot in it again."

  Master Clough having drawn out the papers he required for his proposedtransaction, set out for the Bourse; while I, disguised as one of hisserving-men, accompanied Jacob to the abode of the old fortune-teller.Flemish being my native tongue, it must be remembered I had nodifficulty in passing for the character I had assumed; and I thoughtthat, probably, the Dame Barbara would not recognise me.

  We hurried on towards the part of the city where Jacob believed sheresided; but to find her abode when there among the numberless meanhouses which filled that part of Antwerp was not so easy. We had to askseveral people, and to go from house to house before we could discoverher. Some looked at us suspiciously.

  "You want the Witch of Antwerp," said one, at length. "It is dangerousdealing with such as her. Maybe she has brought these miseries on ourcountry; and the people would do well to make her remove them, or tosink her into the middle of the Scheld. However, if you desire to findher, go on to the end of the lane, and then, turning to your right,knock thrice at the first door you find. If she is disposed to admityou, the door will open in as many minutes as the times you haveknocked; if not, you will hear her owl hooting from within--that is asign that you had better make the best of your way from the house, orsome evil will befall you."

  We thanked our informant--a hard-working artisan of the class whichmostly occupied that part of the city--and followed his direction.

  On reaching the door, I directed Jacob to knock. I almost expected tohear the owl hoot, but scarcely two minutes had passed before the doorslowly opened. We entered, and found ourselves in a dimly-lightedpassage. The door closed behind us, without anybody being seen. We hadour swords and daggers, and Jacob carried a pistol in his belt, so that,should we be suddenly attacked, we might defend ourselves. We advancedquickly along the passage, till at the farther end we came to anotherdoor. Jacob knocked three times with the hilt of his dagger, when thedoor by unseen agency opened slowly, as the other had done, and we saw acurtain hanging in front of us. On drawing it aside, we found ourselvesin a vaulted chamber of considerable size; several lamps hanging fromthe roof gave sufficient light to show the various objects within. Thetrade carried on by the old witch must have paid well, as the variousarticles the chamber contained could not have been procured unless at aconsiderable expense. There were stuffed animals and creatures ofvarious sorts: a huge crocodile, from the Nile; a vulture, with expandedwings, and talons tearing its prey, at which its bloodshot eyes lookeddown with an expression of life-like savageness. On one side there wasa human skeleton of gigantic proportions, with a club in its hand, inthe attitude of striking. Toads and lizards abounded. There were mummycases, with their lids off, exposing the dried remnants of mortalitywithin. In huge bottles were children, some with two heads, or threearms, and other deformities, hideous and disgusting to look at. Therewere also all sorts of incomprehensible instruments, but whetherconstructed for any purpose, or merely for the sake of deception, Icould not ascertain. At the farther end of the chamber sat the oldwitch, habited much as we had seen her in her abode on the heath, with afew fantastic additions, which increased her weird appearance. Beyondher was an open space, and on the ground was seen a fiery line forming acircle. A mist seemed to fill the end of the vault, or else it was aveil so cunningly devised as to represent a mist. Before her, on atripod, stood her magic cauldron, out of which deep red flames rose up,casting a lurid glare around.

  I saw that Jacob looked very pale. He was not prepared for such ascene. He perhaps thought that I, too, had lost my colour; or possiblythe nature of the light in the room added to the pallor of ourcountenances.

  The witch took no notice of our approach, but continued her apparentincantations. We advanced slowly between a row of hideous monsters, whogrinned down upon us from the pedestals on which they sat or stood.They reminded me somewhat of the deities of an Indian temple, from whichpossibly they may have been carried away by some Spanish or Portugueseadventurers.

  As we drew close to the witch, she waved her wand, and in a low,croaking voice ordered us to stop.

  "What seek you with me?" she asked, in the same harsh tone.

  "Your assistance, good mother," answered Jacob.

  "Good mother, quotha? People don't often call me good. As to whetheror not you will or will not obtain my assistance, time will show. Wehave not met for the first time. I don't forget you, young sir, with aliberal hand. Tell me, however, what you require, and I doubt not thatI shall have the power to obtain it for you."

  "The task is not an easy one that we desire you to perform, dame," Ianswered. "I am ready to purchase your services on your own terms; andperhaps, as the affair is altogether connected with this world, we candispense with your incantations on the occasion, and proceed at once tobusiness."

  The old woman uttered a harsh, cackling laugh: "I know not that," shesaid; "but where work can be done by human means, I have no desire tosummon the spirits of the dead to my assistance. See yonder relic ofmortality. At my will I can clothe him with flesh and skin andgarments, and send him forth to accomplish my behests; but I tell you Ioften have to pay dear to maintain my power, and therefore would Irather trust to such means as my native wit affords me."

  She pointed as she spoke to the skeleton of the giant. I had no wish todispute the matter with her, however much I might have doubted the powershe possessed, though I had great confidence in her wit and knowledge ofwhat was going on in the city. I at once, therefore, explained what hadhappened--how Master Clough's house had been attacked, and Avelinecarried off. I did not at first tell her that we were aware of theplace in which she was imprisoned, that I might judge whether she knewanything of the matter. But she must have suspected that we knew morethan I told her, for she declared that she could do nothing unless sheknew the place in which Aveline was shut up. I accordingly told herthat we had discovered the house, and were eager to undertake any planshe might suggest for rescuing her.

  "Well, sit down there on those stools," she said, pointing to some whichstood on the opposite side of the chamber, "Rest there, and meditate; Imust have time to consider the matter. Perchance I may have to consultmy familiar, and, if so, you must promise to remain quiet, and not to bealarmed at my proceedings. Is there any other matter about which youdesire to consult me?"

>   I told her of Master Overton's capture, and of our dread lest he might--as so many other Protestants had been--be led to the stake, in spite ofhis being an Englishman.

  "He deserves to die for his folly!" she muttered. "Why not let peopleremain in their ignorance? If they are once enlightened, they willallow the priests and witches and wizards, and such-like persons, wholive on the credulity of their fellow-creatures, to starve and sink intopauper's graves. However, if you pay me well--although I have no lovefor the man, or such as he--I will honestly win my wages, by doing all Ican to obtain his liberation."

  "A sensible answer, dame," I replied, being more convinced than everthat the old woman worked rather by art and cunning than by any powershe possessed over the spirits of the air or earth.

  "Well, young sir, let me hear what means you have at your disposal forliberating the young lady. Can it best be accomplished by force orfraud?"

  "That is the very question on which I would consult you," I answered,not wishing to inform her of the plan I proposed, lest she should provetreacherous--for even then I did not altogether confide in her.

  "Perchance it might be well to unite the two," she said. "If I canmanage to get the young lady to the street-door, think you that youcould protect her till you have her safely out of the city? for I warnyou that it would not be safe to conduct her back to Master Clough'shouse."

  I did not answer immediately, though the plan she proposed was similarto what I had from the first thought of.

  "I will try and find a few trusty friends who will help me in thematter," I answered, "if you can manage to place the young lady in ourhands. It must be done, however, without delay."

  "You are right, young sir," she answered; "I have thought over thematter. To-morrow our great Duke is to unveil before the eyes of hisadmiring worshippers the mighty statue he has erected to his own honour.Men's thoughts and tongues will wag different ways, I suspect, at thespectacle; but all will be eager to show themselves present--magistratesand people, soldiers and civilians. The streets will be empty, and manya strong post left unguarded. It is a pity the Prince of Orange has nota few thousand men ready to rush in on one side of the city while theSpanish hero is singing his own praises on the other. However, it willbe some time before the Prince can recover his losses; though I tellyou, as long as any life remains in the land, he is the man who musttake the lead. Now, then, listen to my plan. You have marked the housewell, you say. Two hours after noon to-morrow, when the lieges of thiscity are kneeling before the statue of their tyrant, do you come to thedoor and knock thrice. I will be within; and if the young lady has notin the meantime been removed, I will find the means of bringing her downand delivering her into your hands. The rest must depend upon yourcourage and resolution. The risk is great, and so must be my reward."

  Knowing well what she meant, I placed a portion of the gold I hadreceived in her hand, and promised her a yet further sum as soon as,through her means, Aveline was rescued.

  "And now, dame," I said, recollecting the preacher and his too probablefate, should he not be set at liberty, "what help can you render theother prisoner I spoke of? will gold not find its way to his jailers'hearts?"

  "That task would be a more difficult one even than the other," sheanswered; "yet, could I find out where he is shut up, I might perchanceaccomplish it."

  "Cannot your art help you?" I asked.

  She turned a quick glance round at me.

  "It is a matter in which I am not disposed to exercise it," sheanswered. "Now go your ways, and make your arrangements for rescuingthe young lady. Come here again to-night at ten o'clock, and perhaps bythat time I may be able to give you further information."

  Having said this, the old woman, as if suddenly recollecting that shehad been too matter-of-fact in the way of dealing with us, went to hercauldron, and poking up the fire, began to mutter various cabalisticwords, at the same time stirring its contents with her wand.

  Taking this as a sign that she wished our visit to terminate, withoutfurther waste of words we returned by the way we had come, the doorsopening as before, without our touching the latch, while the last oneshut with a loud slam behind us, and we heard bars and bolts immediatelydrawn across it, showing us that some person had been concealed close tothe door. Soon after we reached the house Captain Radford arrived.